Hanwha Advanced Materials Georgia will build a new solar encapsulant manufacturing facility in Bartow County
Project to create 160 new jobs and further cement Georgia as a 21st century leader in clean energy and domestic manufacturing
Senator Reverend Warnock: “I’m thrilled that Georgians are once again reaping the economic benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act”
Washington, D.C. – Today, Qcells announced that its solar supplier, Hanwha Advanced Materials Georgia (HAGA), will build a new advanced materials manufacturing facility in Bartow County, Georgia. HAGA will supply Qcells with Encapsulant film, materials used to encapsulate solar cells and ensure long-term panel durability. This $147 million investment is expected to create more than 160 new jobs and is critical to supporting Qcells plans to develop a fully-integrated solar supply chain in America. HAGA will be the only company in the United States manufacturing solar ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA).
“I’m thrilled that Georgians are once again reaping the economic benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act that has helped pave the way for advanced manufacturing companies like Qcells to invest and expand in our state,” said U.S. Senator Reverend Warnock. “I look forward to continuing to partner with Qcells as our state becomes the premier destination for these 21st century jobs.”
“The products we make are an important piece of the clean energy supply chain puzzle, and we are excited to meet this need,”said Inhwan Kim, CEO of Hanwha Advanced Materials. “Building our cutting-edge, advanced materials in Georgia will not only create new careers in solar but help bring more affordable, reliable clean energy to customers across the country.
HAGA will hire more than 160 full time jobs such as engineers, line operators before starting production in June 2024. This announcement comes only two months after Qcells revealed its plans to invest a historic $2.5 billion into expanding its solar panel manufacturing in Georgia. And this investment comes after years of partnership with leaders in Georgia and following the passage of the Solar Energy Manufacturing for America Act (SEMA) within the Inflation Reduction Act. The demand for American-made solar panels is increasing rapidly driven by the efforts to ensure energy independence, lower energy costs, and create new careers in energy. Qcells’ domestic manufacturing expansion will fulfill the growing need for these clean energy solutions and strengthen Georgia’s position as a global leader in solar.
Last Congress, Senator Warnock introduced the Solar Energy Manufacturing for America Act, which has now been signed into law. The legislation creates tax incentives for every step of the domestic solar manufacturing supply chain and create new jobs for Georgians at facilities like Qcells in Northeast Georgia —supporting American energy independence, and accelerating the nation’s transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. Senator Warnock ensured this legislation was signed into law as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. Additionally, in September 2021, the Senator urged the Office of Management and Budget to close loopholes in the federal solar procurement process to better support American jobs and American solar manufacturers. These federal efforts have helped pave the way for companies like Qcells to thrive in Georgia. Finally, in the Fiscal Year 2023 government funding package, Senator Warnock secured incentives for the federal government to power federal properties using American-made solar panels, which supports American jobs and manufacturers like Qcells.
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